Abyss Guardians

[john99944]

Dibs on killing kitone in ag cos i wanna kill someone real bad and that person is kitone!


Edit: Jayke wants to kill me in AG O.o someone help me!

[Dragonfly77]

Chapter 31

Daevor averted his gaze, unable to look at the grisly disfigured body any longer. “In all my life I’ve never seen anything so horrific,” He whispered.

The face was pocketed with peeling bits of greyed flesh, oozing red sickly liquid that gathered up in tiny clumps, the pockmarks spreading down the neck. The wide yellow eyes stared unblinking at the ceiling, black soulless irises bulging up from the center. The skin had dried over the mouth and lips, with the gaping mouth exposing the blackened teeth and dried fleshy tongue.

“It looks like a zombie…”I whispered, cringing. “Daevor, cover it. Cover it! Get it away!” I whined, backing up quickly from the mutilated figure. “Get it away! Get it away!” I cried, clamping my hands over my mouth. I staggered into a table, knocking down the silver instruments in my fright. “Daevor!”

Daevor quickly dropped the cloth, covering most of the body. He hurried over to me, pulling me into a tight bearhug. “Athemis, calm down, just take a deep breath,” He whispered, clutching my shaking frame. I gripped at his garments, tears streaming down my eyes. “Let’s go,” I begged. “Let’s get out of here, please let’s go outside!”

A soft cool wind glided down my face. “Calm down Athemis,” Daevor whispered, casting another soothing heal spell. “It’s not a zombie - It’s not walking. You needn’t be afraid.” He smoothed down my hair, gently leading me outside of the room.

“I’m sorry Athemis,” He said, settling me down on a bench in the hallway. “I didn’t mean to present that to you. I hadn’t expected that myself.”
I sniffled, shaking my head in irritation. “For the love of Teva,” I hiss angrily. “I’m more than capable of killing a zombie. Why the heck am I still so scared of them?!”

Daevor chuckled, pulling a hanky from his pocket and handing it to me. “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” He said. “It’s completely understandable considering the frightful experience you had as a child.”

I took the hanky, dabbing my eyes. “Yeah…I guess,” I murmured. Long ago, when I was still very young, I had disobeyed my parent’s warning and had snuck into Moonlight Tomb. It was during one of my father’s many business trips to Elderine, when he would travel to the city to sell furs.

I had been playing with my brother and our friends, Kitone and Cora, in the Elderine Park. On a dare, I said I could go into Moonlight Tomb – a graveyard a few miles away from Elderine, connected by a portal gate. Townsfolk were allowed access during the daytime, but as night approached only adventurers were allowed in, as the night would bring forth a mass of dangerous monsters.

I had snuck into the portal, closely following the footsteps of an unknowing passerby – the very first time I did any kind of sneaking around. Within the graveyard I found a peaceful and beautiful landscape of tombstones and burial mounds. The birds chirruped, and flowers bloomed, and the trees waved in the breeze. For a while, I had even forgotten I was in a graveyard.

I explored the place to my heart’s content, wondering what had been so bad about this place. But as night approached by the setting sun, I realized I had wandered so far in, I didn’t know my way back. I had passed townspeople along the way, but now I had found myself standing in the middle of a large bridge, all alone.

I quickly ran down the paths, trying to find the way I had come. That was when I had heard it – a pitiful moaning sound, accompanied by sluggish footfalls. Terrified, I spun around, and spotted a lone zombie in the distance.

I must have screamed, because the zombie was suddenly limping toward me, raising a large chunk of wood ready to club my little head. In a fit of fear, screamed and ran, only evoking more zombies to find the source of my screams and give chase.

I can’t remember much of what happened, except I was crawling through the thickets and brambles of the forest, screaming and crying as zombies chased me, clumsily swinging their clubs of wood and gravestone markers. I crawled into a tipped barrel, only slightly oblivious of the original occupant – a skeletal mess of bones. I was cornered and trapped, with zombies trying to smash the barrel open. Cold dead hands grabbed at my hair and clothes, dragging me out of the mouth of the barrel. I screamed and kicked, clawing at the fleshy arms that were easily ripped at the edge of my fingernails.

I stared into the sockets of the zombie’s face, close enough to see the gooey pus-like mess oozing within the skull. It slowly opened its mouth, sharp teeth ready to devour me whole.

Suddenly and arrow lodged into the side of the head, cleaving straight through from the back of the head and into the cheek. The surrounding zombies staggered up at the sight of the intruder, only to quickly fall to the ground in a rain of arrows. “ATHEMIS!!!”

My father, sweaty and dirty, held his bow to the sky and released another plume of green arrows. The remaining zombies fell to the ground with a sickening thud. I was still wrapped around in their pale decaying limbs, surrounded by the multitude of unmoving bodies. “Daddy!!!” I cried.

My father rushed over, pulling me out of the mess of zombies. I clung to his shirt, bawling my eyes out. He carried me back to Elderine, back inside the safety of the city walls.
I returned to the present, sucking in a deep breath. “Well, okay,” I said, closing my eyes. “You-you said you never saw anything like that before…right?” I said, trying not to think too much of my frightful memory. “Well…”

I pulled my knees up to my chest. “I’ve heard plenty of strange stories about the Abyss, most of them dealing with having stayed in there for too long. Mages say the energy is the opposite of our world, but they don’t really know much of anything else.”

“What kind of stories have you heard about the abyss?” Daevor asked, taking a seat next to me. “I do not frequent the place very often.”

“People have gone crazy,” I said. “If they stay there for weeks, even as little as a few days, they turn into madmen until they’re dragged outside. Also, there’s water there, like running springs and underground lakes, but drinking it will make you hallucinate; unable to think straight. You’ll also go mad.” I stared at opposing wall, trying to sift through the rumors I had heard. “Everyone knows warp scrolls don’t work in there, but no one knows why. The abysses are protected with respawn magic, but like normal mapped land, there is a limit to how far it stretches. There are sections of the abyss where the protective magic doesn’t extend to, and it’s your own risk to go any further.”

“What happens if you do?” Daevor asked. “Well,” I answered, “No one can really explain. The further you go in, the air feels…heavier. And foreign. And deadlier.” I hesitated. “I once tried to go further in at the Swamp of Abyss, but as I kept walking, my skin began to prickle like I was getting burned. I turned back and—”

“Ath, you mean to tell me you actually risked going further in despite knowing what might happen?!” Daevor demanded in surprise. I looked up, startled. “Uh…yeah. I was curious,” I said, giving a sheepish smile.

Daevor stared at me in disbelief. “You just don’t learn, do you?” He asked.

“Huh?”

Daevor placed his hand at his forehead. “Nevermind, child…” He muttered. “I only pray Teva watches over you twenty-four seven…”

“Oh come on! What do you think I am, suicidal?!”

Daevor just shook his head, not wanting to answer.

--

[Dragonfly77]

Doc deftly held a katana, poised to strike at his opponent. Nite himself stood at the ready, his sword glinting in the torchlight. The stood at opposite ends of the room, neither wanting to make the first move.

“You’re making a big mistake,” Doc finally said.

“I could say the same thing for you,” Nite replied. “Except that you already made it.” Nite plunged forward, expecting to make contact, but was surprised when Doc easily spun out of the way and countered with a strike of his own. Nite barely dodged, escaping with a small cut of fabric on his shoulder.

“Not too bad,” Nite said, grinning. “Looks like I underestimated you.”

Doc twirled the katana. “I’ll make this easy for you. Open the door, and let me go about my business here, as if none of this ever happened. Sounds easy enough?”

“Sorry, but that’s not happening,” Nite answered, going in for another attack. He swung his sword, having it blocked against Doc’s own sword. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ‘get rid of you’ like I was told to do.”

“And I’m afraid to prove-you wrong!” Doc lunged forth, pushing Nite back. He leaped on top of a rack of swords, quickly leaping off and sending the rack into motion to slam against Nite.

Nite scrambled out of the path of the rack, barely blocking a blow of a katana. The rack clashed against the stone wall, splattering out weapons on the floor. Nite grabbed a nearby hammer with his free hand, swinging it and clipping Doc’s ankle. Doc tripped, barely rolling out of the way of Nite’s blade.

Nite followed up with another stab, this time hitting his mark on Doc’s hip. Doc grunted in pain, feeling a trickle of blood begin to mat underneath his armor. He quickly absorbed a stone, taking a fighting stance, ready for Nite.

“Seems like we’re about equally matched,” Nite said. “Going to be interesting to see who will be the first one to fall…”

--

“Who you talking to?” Flamewave asked, glancing at Cora with her chatstone. Cora smiled. “A friend. We were in the same class back in the Academy. And he knows Athemis too. He should be able to tell us where she is.”

“If I knew that myself, I wouldn’t be looking for her.” Cons, Flamewave, and Cora turned at the sound of Shiro’s voice. “Hey Cora,” he greeted. “Long time no see.”

Cora smiled a greeting. “Let me guess. You’re looking for Athe too?”

“Yeah…need to speak with her. I was snooping around the library earlier,” he said. He looked up, pausing when he saw Cons. “Wait…a cleric with a slime helm…” His eyes widened. Shiro suddenly pulled out a wand, pointing it at Cons. “Cora…please tell me this is not who I think it is…”

“That’s my sister!” Cora cried out. “Put your wand down! What are you thinking?!”

Shiro hesitated. “There was a notice that went out…about a cleric with a slime helm…”

“What about this ‘cleric with a slime helm?’” Cons challenged, crossing her arms and standing in an imposing stance.

Shiro glanced from Cora to Cons, then to Flamewave and back to Cons. “Some cleric tried to kill a mage in Poring’s ward but poisoned Poring instead…and then she escaped before the guards could find her…”He faltered, looking over at Cons again, finding a smiling slime strangely intimidating.

“Well,” Cons huffed. “To THINK this is the thanks I get for saving someone’s life! I was practically getting ATTACKED by bloodthirsty pkers trying to drag Flamewave’s body out to safety, and then I had to carry him all the way to Poring’s ward, offer to help work part time – for free - to help lessen the chaos of that place, AND needed to work overtime! AND THEN when I step out just to get some fresh air, SOMEONE takes on MY looks and TRIES to pin a murder on me!! On the same guy I saved! So now I’m being chased around Isya with a bounty on my head?! Well, this is just great. Really really great. And if you point that thing at my face for another second, I swear I’m going to rip it out of your hand and see how you like it shoved in your face.”

“Sorry,” Shiro squeaked, letting his arm drop. He looked around for some kind of saving grace, getting only a slight shrug from Flamewave. “Well, she did save my life…”

--

Daevor returned after cleaning up the mortuary, gently closing the door behind him. “So, you don’t really know what could have made the bodies change like so?” He asked.
I shook my head. “No idea,” I said. “And I don’t know how this can help with my ‘investigation’ at all…If anything, everything is just turning into jumbled confusing chaotic mess…”

“Quite a mouthful,” Daevor said. He sighed. “Well, this seems to have been a dead end. I just wish there was something more—”

Daevor stopped walking, with me almost bumping into him. Daevor reached over and yanked my hood over my head, in the process he accidently grabbed a few strands of my hair and yanking that too. I yelped in protest, but quickly saw the reason to why.

Paladin Master Keast was walking down the hall, engross in reading a small pamphlet. She muttered something to herself before looking up. “Daevor, I didn’t expect to see you. Hello.”

Daevor gave a curt nod. “Hello, Keast,” he said in return. I stiffened, hoping my guise hadn’t been discovered.

“Who is the young girl?” Keast asked, eyeing me over. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before…”

“Oh! Uh, this is one of my many apprentice,” Daevor replied. “I was just showing her around.” I smiled, trying to pass off as an innocent looking cleric. Albeit, an innocent, short looking cleric.

Keast looked me over, slowly nodding. “I see, I see,” She said. “Well, it’s always good to see new faces…”

“Um, if you may excuse us,” Daevor said quickly, gently pulling me along, “We have to get going. We still have many things to go over.”

“Of course,” Keast replied, stepping aside to let us pass. “It was nice meeting you two. Just…one more thing…”

Suddenly, Keast reached over and grabbed at my wrist, pulling my hand out of the silken sleeves. My blue ring dazzled in the light of the Vivi crystals. “Just why would a cleric want to wear a ring blessed in dexterity?!”

Before either Daevor or I could react, Keast reached over and yanked my hood off, exposing my pointy ears. Keast’s face contorted with rage at the sight of them. “Daevor! You have brought an ELF into cleric’s holy ground?!”

Keast gripped my wrist firmly – not so much that it would hurt, but strong enough that I couldn’t break free. Daevor stammered, unable to come up with a feasible explanation.

“Explain yourself!” Keast demanded. “How could you have done this!?”

“Master Keast!” I tried to intervene. “It’s not that much of a big deal-”

“Not that much of ‘a big deal?!’” Keast glowered. “Little archer, how would you feel if a fighter waltzed into the archer’s Tree of Life?!”

“Keast, please leave Athemis out of this,” Daevor said desperately. “This was entirely my idea.”

“Daevor, I cannot begin to fathom how a highly ranked cleric as yourself would allow this; but to be in complete agreement with it!?” At this point she gripped my wrist in anger, making me cringe in pain. “I want to see the both of you, at my office, now!!”

--

“How can such an old woman have such a strong grip?” I muttered, staring at the red markings around my wrist. “That hurt…”

Keast had marched us out of the holy grounds, back to where a ‘non cleric’ was permitted access. She had dragged Daevor into her office first, telling –more like yelling –at me to sit outside to wait, where she would deal with me later. Once the door slammed shut, a vicious surge of yelling and scolding promptly followed, pausing only slightly to be answered with a barely audible murmur, and presumed with more yelling and scolding.

Other clerics stopped to look at what was going on, hearing Keast’s voice through the closed door. To add more questions was why was there an archer sitting on a bench outside the door, dressed in the silken garments of a priestess.

After an agonizing half hour, Daevor finally opened the door, stepping out of the office. “Well?” I asked, not too excited to have my turn with Keast.

Daevor gave a long sigh. “You can go Athemis,” Daevor said. “You’re not going to receive any kind of penalty from this.”

I paused. “So…I don’t have to…” I nodded to Keast’s door. Daevor simply shook his head in reply. “I don’t think she’s in any mood to see you anyway.”

“What about you?” I asked hesitantly. Daevor rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, trying to figure how was the best way to answer. “I got demoted,” He finally said.

“You…were…what?” I whispered. “Daevor, I’m…I’m sorry!”

“No, Athemis, don’t be,” he said. “As I said, this was entirely my idea – my fault. None of this is part of your blame.”

“How...far where you demoted?” I asked, not really wanted to know.

Daevor looked away. “To the very bottom…”

I bit my lip. “Daevor, I’m so sorry…”

He shook his head. “I already said, don’t be sorry. It won’t do you any good.” He sat down next to me. “Listen very carefully, Athemis. Keast spoke of some things that I am forbidden to repeat. All I can say is that it has proven our theories to be true – that something very sinister is going on.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “This demotion may actually be a good thing – it will give me time to gather information that may help you.”

“Daevor…there is something that I wanted to ask you about,” I said, wanting to go back to my strange vision, the pair of gloves, and the perfectly intact necklace.

Daevor placed his hand on my shoulder. “Not now Athemis, not here. I want you to keep low for now – for your own safety. Contact your friends and tell them to do the same. Tell them they have to drop this investigation, and not answer to the Senate.”

“But-Daevor. Why?”

“I can’t tell you why, because I don’t really know. All I know is that something very bad is happening.”

I locked eyes with Daevor. His deep blue eyes were usually light and happy, but now they bore seriousness. “Can you promise me that?” he asked.

“I-I can try,” I said. “I’ll pass the message to my friends.”

Daevor took a deep breath. “Just don’t do anything stupid.” He grinned. “Be careful, Athemis of the Abyss.”

[jaykebyrnes]

Interesting o:.. -Waits for next chapter- ;)

[hogashoshiro]

Oh my gosh the suspense is antagonizing! XD Daevor and I sure screwed up ^^ Great chapter though, loved the recollection of your experience with the zombie, keep up the good work ;]

*stays tuned for more*

[Dragonfly77]

Ok, I will be doing my best to keep a bi-weekly update of this story- partly because it's coming close it it's 3rd year and it's STILL not finished...>.o

I am also going to have to remove a few old cameos, (not new ones, and not all) so if you were an old cameo and see yourself disappear, just post in the story and I'll try to add you back in. There will be another chapter in another week or two, permitting how my schedule is.

John, Mary, and Jayke should be appearing in the next chapter, and I believe you are the only 'new cameos' I need to introduce. If I'm missing someone, please let me know.

*plots the next outline*

[john99944]

YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Permission to dance in celebration?*before Ath can even respond dances*

"I'm gonna be a star now!
I'll rub it in your face now!
I'm gonna be a star now!
WIGGLE WIGGLE WIGGLE!"

P.S.: DON'T LET ANYONE PASS-KILL MEH! Just make me look good. I have a reputation to protect! I barely HAVE a good reputation! IT'S ALREADY SO BAD, I DON'T WANNA BE WORSE!

[jaykebyrnes]

^--- You crazy. And yay, I hope I get to pass kill John ;) Haha.

[john99944]

First, it's DavidsonSam. Second, you'll never pass-kill me! I'm a good guy! You'll never stop a good guy like me! NEVER! *takes out bazooka* D:<

[KatieElisa]

Woo hoo! That was good, Athemis! Always worth the wait. :D

[Orchids_Mantis]

great update, Ath. Can't help wondering what word you used to trip the censors in that first chapter, though.

[T3h_SyN]

great update, Ath. Can't help wondering what word you used to trip the censors in that first chapter, though.

I know what the word was. I even pointed it out to her in msn when she gave me a sneak peek at the chapter. I told her the censor was gonna catch it but nooo... Kit knows not of what she speaks :3

[Orchids_Mantis]

I know what the word was. I even pointed it out to her in msn when she gave me a sneak peek at the chapter. I told her the censor was gonna catch it but nooo... Kit knows not of what she speaks :3

Quite to the contrary. Kit knows every word that is censored on the forums because she has used them all on the forums.

*evil grin*

[Dragonfly77]

I didn't even think that was gonna be censored. I changed it now.

[T3h_SyN]

Quite to the contrary. Kit knows every word that is censored on the forums because she has used them all on the forums.

*evil grin*

"My legal team has advised me to neither confirm nor deny these comments."

[john99944]

...

Anyways, nice chapter Ath. Wonder if Kit REALLY knows every word that is censored on the forums...

BTW, DON'T get me pass-killed by anyone or sacrificed or even suicide.

[T3h_SyN]

Yea, I keep a list of all the censored words, just in case...

[john99944]

Oh, really? Good thing you keep them; you can prevent yourself from posting them on the forums.

[papadoc1]

Great job ath, can't wait to finish my fight xD

[EriAeris]

Quick reply to all XD

O.O!! More adventurous adventures are coming XD


Keep them coming Athy-dear! Someone should publish this o.o; YUMMY!

[mary587]

uhh Dragonfly i need sometips on my other Part i got some people who like it but im just a starter do you know what to do?

[RyaikenDune]

Big e.e This is really big e.e

*Feels small*

[Dragonfly77]

*Looks up hazily from the middle of writing the next chapter*

ye? x.x;

[AVTXL386]

darn it! you got my hopes up thinking there was another chapter!

[T3h_SyN]

That's precisely why I don't post in my own story's thread :D

[hogashoshiro]

*pokes in head to see if anything new is there* Not yet though, I shall wait ^^

[Dragonfly77]

Chapter 32

Maghis collapsed, clutching his chest. “Not….this….again!” He wheezed. His entire frame quavered, unable to support the frail man. Maghis curled on the floor, pulling his knees to his chest like a small child. “Jandlus,” he whispered. “Please, I’ve been waiting for over an hour for you…don’t prolong this anymore…Jandlus!”

The ink black water before him began to froth, specks of gold light slowly lighting up the surface. At the center of the lake, the dragon’s head rose, eyes on the crippled figure at the edge of the lake. He warily eyed the mage, hesitant to come any closer.
“Jandlus,” Maghis whispered, straining to push himself to rest on a rock outcropping. “Don’t abandon me, dear friend.”

Once Jandlus was content with knowing that Maghis was still alive, he dove back under the water. Maghis sighed, the numbing pain slowly lessening. “Jandlus, I know you’re angry with me…” Maghis said. “I know what I did was wrong, but…” Maghis faltered. “Please, come out.”

After a few more minutes of coaxing, Jandlus rose from the water again, swimming up to Maghis. Maghis reached an outstretched hand to stroke Jandlus, but the dragon suddenly lunged at Maghis, snapping his massive jaws. Maghis recoiled back in surprise, rubbing his hand, surprised that it was still intact.

Jandlus whined, diving back into the water and swimming laps around the lake. Finally, he returned to Maghis, pushing his snout on the mage’s lap.

Maghis stroke the beast’s face. “It’s all right Jandlus,” he said. He looked into the beast’s emerald eyes, filled with sadness and loss. Maghis fervently shook his head. “No, it’s not all right,” he muttered. “By Teva, what have I done?”

--

“You caught him.”

“You sound surprised.”

The man looked over at Kitone, raising an eyebrow. He had learned not to let his guard down around her, lest she would take advantage of it and make him look like a fool again.
Kitone placed her hands on her hips. “What did you come here for?” she asked. “I’m busy. Very. Busy.”

“I wanted to see your guest,” he replied, turning around and walking to the balcony. His long coat swished behind him, sweeping the gold-trimmed marble tiles that adorned the floor.

“No.”

The red-haired man looked over his shoulder. “What was that?”

“No,” Kitone repeated, joining the man at the balcony. “You can’t see him.”

“…And why not?”

Kitone locked eyes with him. “Because I said so.”

The man equally glared back. “I’m not the coward I once was…Kitone…” he seethed.

“For your sake, I hope so,” she replied. The man suddenly felt something poking at his stomach. He looked down, seeing the tip of Kitone’s sword, Pyrae, placed on his abdomen. He pulled back. “All right, have it your way,” he said, face flushed red with humiliation at having his weakness being exploited so easily.

Kitone smirked. “I won’t kill you,” she said coyly, turning her attention to the view over the balcony. A magnificent structure towered in the hall before them, with violet crystals crowning the edifice. “You still have your uses to me.”

The man glowered, swallowing his pride. “I think I liked you better before I sent you to the Ai’Feya room.”

Kitone gritted her teeth, clenching the rim of the balcony. “Kitone? Is something the matter?” the man asked, smiling. “Did I say something that…upset you?”

Kitone made no reply. “Kitone, talk to me,” he ordered, reaching over to grab her shoulder. Kitone spun around, and in one fluid motion slit the man’s wrist. He yelled in anguish, burning pain searing into his flesh.

Kitone lunged forward, pinning the man against the wall. “Kitone,” he cried, “calm down! I didn’t mean to upset – ugh!!” Droplets of crimson blood splattered on the floor, seeping from a new wound on his shoulder.

“What you did to me,” she whispered, “is something I will never forgive you for.” She stared into his horrified eyes. “You tricked me that night. You are not worth the filth at the bottom of my shoe.”

Slowly, a smile crept over her face. “But on the other hand, the experience has made me…a better person,” she said, gently tracing his neck with Pyrae’s blade. “I’m a whole new being…I’m not the coward I once was...”

She gripped his injured shoulder, digging her nails into his wound. “Get out. I got work to do,” she said, shoving him to the door. “You know your way out.”

--

“Mary!! Behind you!” John yelled, ducking underneath the wild swing of a shadow cleric. “Look out for the Vivi!”

Mary, John’s sister, turned around, just in time to raise her shield and block the lighting strike from the Vivi. John rushed to his sister’s side, raising his sword and severing the beast’s midsection in one sweep. “You ok?” He asked Mary.

“Mhm,” Mary nodded in reply, casting a light heal on her brother. “Don’t be so reckless. You still have that karasan to deal with,” she said, pointing behind him.

John glanced over, getting the wind knocked out of him as the shadow cleric whacked him with a painful blow to the head. “John!” Mary cried, healing him again.

“I’m fine!” John said, raising his sword and landing a final blow on the shadow. The shadow vainly tried to raise it’s shield in defense, but John swiftly threw an uppercut with his blade, expertly skewing the enemy in the abdomen.

“See? Nothing to worry about,” John said proudly, as the shadow collapsed at his feet. Mary made a face, eyeing the shadow. It was convulsing in pain, eyes wide in fear and terror. It clutched it’s abdomen where John had struck it. “She looks terrible,” Mary murmured.

“You can’t let that get to you,” John answered, raising his weapon to deal the final blow. “Killing the shadows help them move on. It’s better to end their life as swiftly as possible,” he explained. But as he shifted his weight to bring down his sword, he stopped himself. The shadow’s lips were moving. He furrowed his brow, unable to make out what it was saying. The shadow turned its gaze up to John, and repeated its words.

“Get out alive,”

John clenched the handle of his sword, his knuckles white. “Wha-what?”

Suddenly the shadow leaped forward, slamming its mace against John’s chest, knocking him back. He yelped, flailing, falling defenseless on the ground, open for the shadow’s next attack.

Mary cried out, stepping forward and swinging her hammer out in front of her brother. The blunt force knocked the shadow back, and allowed Mary to follow up with another attack, this time clipping the shadow in the head. Helpless, the shadow staggered back, blood pouring from the fracture on its skull. It fell backward, and laid still, slowly disappearing into a wisp of smoke.

“Don’t worry John,” Mary said, holding out a hand to help her brother up. “You can’t let it get to you.”

“Heh…” John muttered, accepting his sister’s hand and standing back up. “Right…”

--

Doc leaped back again, barely ducking out of Nite’s attack. He rose his katana again, deflecting Nite’s blade. Doc dove and rolled out of another blow, grabbing a second one hand sword in his other hand, holding them both up in defense.

“You know, you as a fighter should know that dual wielding is against the law,” Nite said pointedly, slashing with his two handed sword again.

“So is murder,” John replied, leaping backwards out of the attack.

“And so is trespassing,” Nite answered, lunging for a second attack, which Doc easily deflected. “But hey, we still have people who do that.”

Nite stepped back, circling around Doc. A smile crept over Nite’s face. Doc’s eyes narrowed, readying himself.

Nite lunged forward in a straight attack, stabbing his sword straight forward. Doc leaped, easily moving out of the way. Nite’s large sword punctured the wall where Doc stood before.

Nite let out a long sigh. “Finally,” He grinned, staring at the spot where his wall had gone through the wood. He turned to face Doc. “Ok, we can stop n-“ he was abruptly cut short as Doc raced forward, slamming a powerful devastate attack into Nite, sending him flying.
“Whoa! Hold it!” Nite yelled, landing roughly on the floor. He put his hands up in defense. “Stop! We don’t need to put up the act anymore!!”

“Wha-what?” Doc asked, breathing heavily. “What act? What are you talking about?!”
Nite pointed to the large sword that was wedged into the wall. “We’re not being watched anymore. Chill.”

Doc clenched his teeth. “Being watched? What?”

Nite slowly stood, keeping his hands up in Doc’s view. “Didn’t your guild tell you that you were to meet another spy from an allied guild?”

Doc hesitated. “Yeah…so what of it?”

Nite smiled. “Well, that’s me. Nice to meet you, new partner.”

[Dragonfly77]

I know, this is a teensy bit short, but I'll be posting another chapter, hopefully today.

[KatieElisa]

Ohhhh, I like it. Nice teaser for more to come. :)

[Orchids_Mantis]

Perhaps I shouldn't distract you with your other works so often....



That's precisely why I don't post in my own story's thread :D

....you're not posting your STORY in your story's thread, either :D

[Dragonfly77]

Perhaps I shouldn't distract you with your other works so often....


What you mean? I can multi task o.o

[T3h_SyN]

....you're not posting your STORY in your story's thread, either :D

I am aware of this and steps are being taken to remedy this situation.


What you mean? I can multi task o.o
Slowly...

[papadoc1]

I am aware of this and steps are being taken to remedy this situation.


Slowly...

Lulz cant anyone multitask....slowly?

[Dragonfly77]

Chapter 33

Bloody woke for a start. “Ugh…who-dere?” He mumbled, burrowing his head back into his pillow. He shifted in the small cot, trying to fall back to sleep.

A sharp female voice rang down the hallway. “Bloody!! Wake up!!” Bloody growled in protest. “What?” He demanded, rolling over and sitting up.

Kitten looked at him from the other side of the bars. “What are you doing asleep?” She asked. “It’s practically midday.”

Bloody crossed his arms. “What else am I supposed to do down here? I’m bored.”

Kitten shrugged. “How long did Daevor said he’d keep you down here?”

“Until ‘this mess is cleaned up and I know you can’t make another one,’” Bloody answered, folding his hands behind his head and leaning back against the wall.

Kitten placed her hands on her hips, looking around the dungeon. “Then…you’re probably going to be in here for a long time.”

Bloody made a face. “Ok. By law, Daevor can’t hold me in here forever. Max is one week. And it’s already been a few days.”

“That’s still a long time,” Kitten mused. She shrugged. “Oh well. At least we brought you in some company!” she said, smiling.

Bloody raised a curious eyebrow. “Company? What do you mean-”

A loud vicious screech cut him off. Kitten shivered, quickly running over to an unoccupied cell and throwing the door open. “Um…what was that?” Bloody asked apprehensively.

“Company,” Kitten replied. Two other male fighters came down the steps, dragging a female fighter along with them. The captive screamed and clawed at them, held in place by the chains on her ankle and shackles. They tugged and pulled the girl toward the cell, quickly shoving her inside, which once in, Kitten immediately slammed the door shut.

“What in Dark Hills is that?!” Bloody demanded. The girl slammed her small frame against the cell, screaming and howling.

“That’s a shadow,” Kitten answered, backing away as the shadow tried to claw for her as well.

“A…shadow…from the Abyss?!”

Kitten nodded. “Yeeeep….we don’t have any other place to keep her, so we had to bring her here.” She nodded a ‘thank you’ to the two other fighters, which both, gasping for breath, climbed the stairs back out of the dungeon.

“You can’t expect me to stay here with that thing!!” Bloody half yelled, pointing at the shadow. “I mean, I can kill it if it breaks out and comes for me, but….”

“Oh come on, we’re not going to keep you down here with it,” Kitten said. “Daevor told me to let you out.”

“He…said…” Bloody’s eyes narrowed. “And you were going to tell me this when?”

Kitten grinned. “Just after I got to see your reaction of what you thought of a possible new roommate.”

“You’re cruel.”

Kitten laughed, pulling out her inventory bag and digging through it. “Hmm…now where did I put…” she paused. “Oops…I think I left your cell key upstairs.” She smiled sheepishly. “I’ll be right back, ok?”

The shadow screamed again, banging her palms against the iron bars. “Ok, but hurry,” Bloody said, hesitantly watching the shadow. Kitten nodded, quickly running up the steps.

Bloody sat back down on the cot, watching the shadow. The shadow glowered at Bloody, emitting a deep growl. “Why do they even want you anyway?” Bloody asked. The shadow answered with another high pitched scream, rattling her bars.

Bloody clamped his hand over his ears. “Come on, Kitten…hurry up!”

--

John peered over the edge of the cliff, staring down at the inky black darkness far below. Above him, the gigantic metallic wheel creaked monotonously as it turned on its axis. “I wonder what’s down there?” He murmured.

Mary looked back at her brother. “What are you trying to do?” She asked, walking over to him.

John got down on his stomach, trying to penetrate the darkness below the cliff line. “Trying to see if there’s anything down there,” He answered.

Mary kneeled next to him, looking down. “Have you heard of the rumors?”

“What rumors?” John asked, not taking his eyes off from the blackness.

“They say that sometimes, you can see monsters climbing down the wall, but when people go check, there’s no foot holds or hand holds.” She said. “If it’s true, then there is something down there. Maybe a Karasian base?” she mused.

“Pretty smart, have a base that humans or elves can’t get into,” John answered. “But what’s not smart is to have the base’s surrounding areas in a popular training spot…”

“True,” Marry murmured. “Hey…” she paused, quickly peering over at a specific spot down below. “did you see that speck of light?”

John’s eyes snapped down. “Where?”

Mary pointed downward. “It was there for a split second. Like a flicker.”

“Let’s go check it out,” John said excitedly. He got up, walking around the edge of the cliff line. He peered over the edge, precariously tilted over the brink of the chasm.

“Hey! Be careful! Don’t fall in!” Mary cried out, quickly getting up. She started off to follow him, but a loose tile under her foot gave way, spilling over the edge. With a yelp, she slipped down the side of the cliff, barely seizing the edge with her arms to stop her fall. “JOHN!!”

“Mary!! Hang on!!” He yelled, racing over to his sister. He grabbed her arms, struggling to pull her back up. “I got you! Don’t worry!”

Mary clutched at his elbows. “John!! There’s a Vivi!!” Mary yelled. John turned his head, just in time to see the blazing white creature reel back. John yelped, unable to defend himself. He had no time to move as the Vivi spewed out it’s attack, the ball of electricity slamming into John’s back, pushing him - and his sister - over the edge, and into the black pit below.

[Dragonfly77]

--

Tian sat down against the wall, taking a moment to catch his breath. “Thanks for coming with me to help me train,” He said, looking up at the cleric.

“No problem,” An replied. He sat down next to his brother. “It’s my last chance to help you out here anyway,” An Ning replied. “Sooner or later, the guards won’t be letting me in here.”

The two brothers watched the goblins walk around aimlessly within the room, oblivious of the pair of adventurers a few feet away. Tian sat cross-legged, resting his back against the wall. “You know what I always wondered about?” Tian asked.

“Hm? What?” An said, propping his hammer and shield next to him. “Why no one has attacked you yet despite you being very weak looking in appearance?” An grinned.

“Ahaha….no. I was wondering why monsters in the abyss always look like they’re unaware of what’s going on. Except when you get close enough to one, then it aggros you.” He shrugged. “Monsters outside the abyss don’t walk around so much. They just stand there, guarding their territory.”

“Huh, I never noticed that,” An said. “Now that you mentioned it, that’s true.”

One of the goblin mages suddenly turned its attention to the other side of the room, bolting off. A few other goblins looked up, quickly following suit. “Oh darn,” Tian muttered. “Looks like someone came in the room. Hope we don’t have to get into a fight over who gets to use it,” Tian sighed, standing up. “Come on, An. Let’s see if we can talk to them.” An nodded, and followed Tian toward the commotion of goblins.

Tian furrowed his eyebrows, trying to spot the person within the mob. The goblins had taken no notice of the presence of the brothers, too busy shoving each other to a hit on their target. But what didn’t make sense was that the monsters seemed to be aiming for the spot where the floor joined the wall. Then Tian spot the person – a small form of a young fighter girl, huddled against the bashing clubs, with only the thin armor to protect her.

“An! Help me!” Tian called out. An was already moving, quickly casting a protect spell over the fighter. Tian slammed his large sword downward and devastated the goblins, quickly killing them. It took him only a few minutes to clear out the goblins, exposing the wounded fighter beneath the mass of dead bodies.

“Hey…are you all right?” Tian asked, kneeling down next to her. An knelt down next to her, casting several soothing heal spells. She looked up at the two of them. Her frame was lithe and flexible, and her armor was made of sturdy leather, instead of metal. Her ears were rounded, but had a slight point at the tips. “She’s a halfler,” An murmured.

“My friend,” She choked, gripping at Tian’s shoulder. “Have to help-” she didn’t finish the sentence, collapsing against Tian. “Have to-have to help…”

Tian gently picked up the limp girl. “We better hurry her to Avon,” he said. An nodded, following after him. “What about this friend of hers?” He asked.

Tian looked down at the fighter. “We can tell the guards…but she won’t be able to give us much info in this state…better hope her friend just fared better than her.”

Sadly, that was not the case.

--
Conjurator stared at lock in the cell door. He took a deep breath, willing himself to calm down. “Ok…fifteen of the unlocking spells I know didn’t….work.” He slowly let out his breath. “I don’t need to panic. I know…two more spells.” He opened his eyes, raising a hand up to the lock. “Avra pen titra kam delara osho kama!” the lock glowed bright red, small clicks and whirrs coming from inside the contraption. Conjurator forced himself to stay calm, and not break the flow of the spell. As the magic died down, he placed his hand against the door, and gently pushed.

The door refused to budge. “Dammit!” Conjurator struck at the bars. “Ok….sixteen out of seventeen. I have one more chance. One more spell…that…I…” He shook his head. “I’m screwed.”

He raised his hand again, a white hot ball of fire formulating in his palm. With a yell, he thrust it toward the lock, blasting the fireball directly on it. It exploded with a loud bang.

As the glare and smoke vanished, the lock remained, perfectly intact and without a single scorch mark. Conjurator tried the door again, and it still refused to budge. He rested his head against the bars in defeat. “Seventeen out of seventeen. Yup, I’m screwed.”

“Giving up so easily, Conjy?”

Conjurator snapped up, staring at Kitone. She was leaning back against the golden engraved walls, smiling sweetly at him. “Come on Conjy. Is that all you can do? I thought you were a bit more…capable.” she shook her head. “I really was expecting to have more fun with you. Maybe I should try harder torturing you.”

Conjurator’s eyes narrowed. “You still haven’t told me why I’m here,” Conjurator answered. Kitone didn’t reply, pushing herself up from the wall and walking over to the cell door. Conjurator took a step back, distancing himself from the fighter. Kitone placed her hand in the door, and with a gentle push, it swung open. She entered the cell and shut the door behind her.

“Here, put these on,” Kitone said, pulling out a pair of gauntlets and tossing them in front of him. The gauntlets were gilded and adorned with small gemstones. Intricate lines and markings traced up and down from the gauntlet, circling around the gemstones.

Conjurator took one look at them and shook his head. “I know what those are…no way I’m putting them on.”

Kitone glared. “You don’t have a choice Conjy…”

“No way!!-“ Conjurator was met with a fist against his cheek. He recoiled back, shielding himself from another hit. He summoned a ball of ice in his hand.

“Listen Conjy,” Kitone sneered, “if you refuse to put them on, I’ll put them on you myself…” she cracked her knuckles, and raised her hand for another strike.

Conjurator hesitated, but slowly dropped his hand and let the ball of ice disappear. He kept one eye on Kitone, reaching over to pick up the gauntlets.

Kitone smiled. “Good boy.” She lowered her fist and crossed her arms. “Now put them on, Conjy.”

Conjurator unwillingly slipped his arm and hand into the first one, snapping it in place. The gauntlets fit snugly over his gloved hands, coming to a stop just an inch below his elbow. He snapped the other one on, glaring a Kitone.

He was trapping himself into a corner. These were unique gauntlets, designed as a shackle for mages. They were enchanted to take and absorb any magical spell that was casted from his hands, removing the mage’s ability to fight. He was completely defenseless.

“Those gauntlets have the same locking mechanism as your cell door,” Kitone said. “They won’t open unless I will them too.” She grinned. “Now,” she balled her hands into fists and stalked toward him. “Let me just make sure they worked.”

Conjurator immediately took a step back at her remark. Kitone grinned. “What? No flashy spells, Conjy dear?” She swung a punch at him, intentionally missing him.

“Hey!!” he cried out, ducking from another swing. “You’d strike an unarmed person!?”

Kitone grinned. “Why yes. Yes, I would.” She swung again, connecting a glancing blow to his shoulder. “What’s wrong? You're not defending yourself?”

Conjurator gripped his shoulder, trying to circle around her at a safe distance. “How?! You sealed my magic!!”

“Hmm…try to punch me back?” she laughed, stepping forward and landing a solid kick against Conjurator’s ribs. He slammed against the floor, the wind knocked out of him.

“Come on Conjy! You’re not even trying!” Kitone aimed a kick at Conjurator’s head. He shielded himself with the gauntlets, but the kick just glanced his head. Kitone raised a fist to strike again. Conjurator raised his hand, desperately trying to conjure a fireball.

The flames slipped into his hand and almost began to curl, but they were sucked in by the gauntlet the minute they formed. Conjurator stared at his hand. “Crud…”

Kitone brought her fist down, stopping shy from his clenched face. She hovered her fist just above his head. “Brilliant…they do work.” She sighed sadly. Without another word she withdrew her fist and stood up, heading to the cell door.

Conjurator cracked his eye open. “…You…stopped?”

Kitone opened the door and closed it behind her. “At this point I've been ordered ‘against’ harming you, more than I need to, anyway. Apparently they want you in good condition.” She sighed. “Much to my dismay,” she muttered.

Conjurator slowly pushed himself up from the floor, rubbing the one spot on his ribs that she did kicked him in. “Well,” Kitone said, smiling at him. “You were supposed to dodge.”

Conjurator ignored the comment, more disturbed by something else. “…Who are ‘they?’” he asked. “And why do they want me?”

“Well, I don’t know what it is they exactly want with you…” she mused. “All they said is that within a few days, you’ll no longer be my problem.” Kitone bit the bottom of her lip. “And I’ll be alone again…”

“Wait-what?!”

Kitone turned around, placing each hand on a bar, and rested her head in the gap. “Is it that hard for you to wrap your brain around?” she lowered her gaze at him. “You’ll…be…gone…”

Kitone smiled at his anxious face. “Unless,” she mused. “Nah, it can’t be. Could it?”

“Unless what?” Conjurator asked.

Kitone tilted her head. “Nothing,” she replied, smiling to herself. “I’m just thinking about the future.”

“You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

Kitone said nothing, turning around and walking back down the hall.

Conjurator bolted up and ran to the bars. “These things…” he held out his gauntlets to the disappearing Kitone. “They can serve a second purpose besides blocking my magic, do they?! Aside from absorbing my spells, they can also drain my mana!” He gripped at his bars. “Is that what this is?!?”

Kitone stopped in her tracks, glancing back at Conjurator. “My my. You’re a sharp one, aren’t you?” her lips curled into a smile. “But it’s a bit too late for you to do anything about it.” She continued down the hall.

Conjurator stared at her disappearing figure. “Kitone!!!” he yelled at her. “KITONE!!!!” she ascended up the steps, out of sight. Eventually, her footsteps faded away as well.

Conjurator slowly slid down, still gripping a bar with one gauntlet-covered hand. “They’re going to drain my mana,” he whispered, horrified. “Why do they want my mana?”

[Dragonfly77]

Multitasking ftw.

[AVTXL386]

yeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! : DDDDD

[KatieElisa]

Awwww, I want to bust in and save Conjy. :( I feel so bad for him, he can't seem to get a break.

[Dragonfly77]

Awwww, I want to bust in and save Conjy. :( I feel so bad for him, he can't seem to get a break.

He actually got off pretty easy this time around....

But alas, I've said too much... >.>;

[T3h_SyN]

You can't bust in and save Conjy D<

I'm just beginning to enjoy his company >:3

[john99944]

Great to know that me and my sister had finally got in the story. Theres one problem though...

My NAME. Its DavidsonSam, not John, OK? Comprendo?

Edit: Am I dead?

[hogashoshiro]

So epic! I love it ^^ What about you (Athemis) though? We haven't heard what your up to in a while :o

[Dragonfly77]

Oops, sorry John, I'll chance it on the next update, which I'm (hopefully) planning for this weekend. And are you dead? Well......no.

Yes, it's coming close to when I make my own appearance again. ^^ There will be a unique twist coming soon....

[AVTXL386]

.......

D:
.............
that means the next uodate won't be until may ;_;

[Dragonfly77]

._.;

If I say it will be up tonight, will you expect it by the end of this weekend? :D

[AVTXL386]

no, I'll expect it sometime in 2012. >.>

(yeah, don't worry. I believe in you more than I believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and OOS. in that order.)

[Dragonfly77]

;-;

*hides in corner*

At least I beat the tooth fairy...

[AVTXL386]

and Santa, and OOS.

its like this

DragonFly77>Santa>Tooth>OOS

[dragons9887]

*Pokes in* is there going to be an update anytime soon? I want the next chapter >.<

[AVTXL386]

LOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!! I WAS RIGHT!!! ITS MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!!!


xD xD xD

[Dragonfly77]

._.;

*hides*

[AVTXL386]

._.;

*hides*

*yanks from hiding spot*


oh no you don't, you have a story to update!! >:3

[AVTXL386]

WTH COMMON ITS ALREADY JUNE!!!!!!!


q.q

[Dragonfly77]

D:

Have you heard of summer classes?

[Orchids_Mantis]

Well Ath, your last update WAS three months ago....

[Dragonfly77]

*looks up from typing next chapter, due to go up any day now* Nyaaa?

*shifty eyes* 3 months huh? That means....I need about...6 updates to...catch up....

eek.

[Dragonfly77]

Chapter 34

Lucky woke with a start. He blinked, staring up at the wooden underside of the bunker above. He raised his hands to rub the sleep from his eyes, momentarily recalling where he was.

He stared at the bunker above him, trying to piece together what he could remember. He could faintly recall what had happened to him; he had been carried out of the Abyss, bleeding and wounded, and taken to Avon’s medical ward. They placed him on a bed, then covered his mouth with a piece of cloth. He remembered the chaos of clerics around him, healing his wounds and checking his vital signs, before he dozed off. And then…

“Then what?” he wondered out loud. He pressed his fingers against his side, remembering the painful wound that used to be there. It was gone, and so was any other pain in his body. He slowly sat up, blinking in surprise at the surrounding of the room he was in. Lying next to him on was another patient, asleep. Next to him was another person, and another person.

Lucky swung his bare feet out of the bed covers, gingerly stepping onto the polished wooden floor. He stood up, peering up at the bunker above his bed. There was another patient there, fast asleep.

“Where am I?” He murmured. All around him were more beds, all of them with people, fast asleep. He rubbed the muscles of his calves, shaking it to have the blood run freely in his legs. He walked out from the line of beds, counting them up. “Twenty five other people,” he pursed his lips. “Am I in some kind of intensive care unit…?”

He hesitated, glancing around the room. Except for the beds and patients, it was completely bare. He headed for the door on the opposite side of the room, placing his hand on the knob. “Well, since I’m better, I should go find the nurse or–” the doorknob stopped in his hand, refusing to turn. His eyebrows furrowed. “Wha-I’m locked in?” He shook at the lock, but it stayed firmly in place.

He looked back at the beds of unconscious patients. Something twisted in his gut. Something wasn’t right. There was something about this place that he didn’t like.

~~

I gripped the chatstone in my hand, brows furrowed in confusion. Are you sure? I asked, linking my mind into the magical communication device. Is that what it said?

Shiro’s voice echoed from the other end of the chatstone. I’m reading it straight from the book, Ath. I didn’t even know about this myself.

Well…that is strange…thanks. I said. I need to get going, and-

Ath, Shiro’s voice popped up again. Where are you? And why was your chatstone turned off earlier?

I hesitated. I…didn’t turn my chatstone off….

Ath, I’ve been trying to contact you for the past half hour. Are you sure?

Positive. I didn’t switch it off. I’m in the Abyss

I waited for his reply, intently listening for his voice again. Shiro? I asked. I looked down at the pulsating stone in my hand. “Huh? Shiro?”

I hesitated. “What happened?” I held the stone up, staring at it. “Helloooo? Shiro?”

I paused, looking at my surroundings. I was at the Hall of the Abyss once again, standing at the edge of the many hallways that stood up high over the endless yawning abyss below. This particular hall was lined with fountains, the mouth of dragons gurgling out the poisonous and pellucid water. Ahead of me stood a soft hazy blue wall, marking the ends of the protective respawn zone. Beyond that border was outside of the protective territory of the respawn magic.

I pulled out the pair of gloves from my pocket, fingering the embroidery designs in the soft silk. “I still have time to turn back,” I murmured. I glanced at the chatstone in my other hand. “Which I probably should if this thing is broken…”

A chilling wind swept up behind me, blowing into the direction of respawn’s borderline. I gritted my teeth, quickly turning around. “Wherever you are, stop that,” I hissed, my eyes darting back and forth. “I’ve been following your gusts ever since I got here, and it’s beginning to creep me out.”

The empty hallway stared back at me. I sighed. “I am following a gust of wind. I’m talking to a gust of wind.” I heavily sat down on the steps of one of the fountains. “I’m going crazy…”

I shook my head. “There’s not even supposed to be wind in here,” I murmured, looking upward. The water behind me continued to gurgle and sputter, drowning out my soft voice. “None of this is adding up…”

I leaned back, staring at the gray ceiling above me. “If what Shiro said is true, then Abyssmal energy is ‘anti’ energy, energy opposite of what exists outside the abyss.” I pursed my lips. “It would make sense as to why the air and water here are deadly…” I turned around and looked at the water behind me. “And it would also explain the black liquid we found in that arrow earlier. If it was poison made with anti-energy, then it would react violently in our world.”

“But,” I mused, leaning over the fountain to look at its stone bottom. “Shadows here cannot make weapons…an archer, consumed with the abyss, wouldn’t be able to make the poison for their arrows…which is why when you’re attacked by an archer here, the only spell they can do, is aimed shot…”

I reached into my bag, selecting an arrow from my quiver. “Where does a shadow archer get its poison?” I wondered, dipping the head of my arrow into the water. “No plants grow in here…none that can be used to make poison anyway. All there is, is the water…”

I pulled my arrow out, watching the droplets of water fall of the tip of the arrowhead, dripping back into the fountain. “No…it still doesn’t make sense,” I muttered. “Abyss water is only deadly if it enters your body,” I placed my chin on my hand, looking up at the eyes of the dragon. “It would be a good supply of poison, but…that liquid in the arrow wasn’t water…”

Another chilling gust swept up behind me, blowing into the direction of the respawn borderline. I cringed, hesitating. “All right,” I whispered. “If this is a sign or something, it better not be a bad sign.” I tossed my arrow over the edge of the cliff, and stood up. “Just so you know,” I said, looking down the empty hallway, “If you show your skull-face to me again I’m probably going to freak out and run.” I took a deep breath, and with the pair of gloves in one hand, and my crossbow in the other, I headed out to the shimmering blue wall, and out into the uncharted land.

~~

David’s eyes opened. Water. Abyssmal water. He could barely make it out in the dark, but he was falling straight for it.

He took a deep gulp of air, and screwed his eyes shut. Please don’t let me die, please don’t let me die, please please please Teva please!

He plunged head first into the cold water, the weight of his armor and weapons pulling him down. He kicked desperately, clawing for the surface. Don’t drink the water, don’t drink the water, don’t drink it, don’t drink it…

He broke the surface, arms flailing as he struggled to fight off the urge to breathe. One drop of water in his mouth could make him sick, and accidentally swallowing a mouthful would be fatal. He fumbled around, blindly trying to reach out for a wall or ledge, anything to grasp a hold on.

His hand hit a wooden beam, and he grabbed onto it, desperately clinging for his life. He squirmed halfway out of the water, resting his stomach on the beam. He wiped the water droplets from his mouth and eyes, calling out. “Mary?!”

He blinked, wiping more of the water from his face. “Mary!!” He called out again, trying to pierce the dark with his eyes. “Mary!! Where are you?!”

A voice called back to him, hidden from the lapping of the water. “Mary!!” he yelled again, struggling to crawl out of the water and onto the beam. “Where are you?!”

“David, over here!” She yelled. David blinked, making the faint outline of a cleric clinging onto the other end of the support beam.

“Mary!” he cried out. “Mary, are you ok? …You….didn’t drink the water did you?”

“No, I don’t think so,” she answered, struggling to get a good grip on the beam. “David, I-I lost my hammer when I fell. I still have my shield.”

“Argh, darn it.” He muttered. “I think I dropped my sword too, but I got my shield. You-you’re ok, right?”

“Uh-huh,” she answered, pulling herself out of the water, and sitting on the beam.

David wiped some loose droplets off of his face, extra careful that none of it fell into his eyes. He peered up ward, at the rectangular hole they had fallen through, and the gear monotonously turning in the huge gap.

“Where are we?”

~~

[Dragonfly77]

Kitone tightly gripped the bed sheets, wrapping it around her quivering frame. She sobbed quietly, clenching the hem of the cloth, wrapping it around her fingers. Her eyes were wet with tears as they streamed down her face, softly dripping off her skin and matting her pillow.

She gulped in a large breath of air, forcing herself to hold it in. She willed herself to not lose control, to pull herself back together. She expelled the air from her mouth, sucking in another breath of air, and held it. Her sobbing slowly lessened, and at one last tug of the bed sheets, her shoulders stopped from shaking.

Kitone quietly laid in the small cot, staring at the blank sandstone wall. She blinked the last tear out of her eyes, brushing it away with the bed sheets. Suddenly she swung her feet outward, abruptly sitting up.

The bed sheet slipped off her shoulder, clinging to the sides of her armor, sticking against the blood that had dried on the metal. She continued to stare at the wall, unmoving, listening to the dead silence around her.

“I hate weakness,” she whispered. She yanked the bed sheet off herself, throwing it back on the cot. She had work to do.

~~

It was a dream. Another dream. Why was I dreaming again? I didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. I liked dreaming.

I sat along the ledge of a window, staring out at the moon and stars. The scent of ocean waves wafted into the room, accompanied by the comforting hum of their distant waves. This was home. My home.

Moon and stars. Moon and stars. I was the moon, he was the star. That’s what we were. That’s what our names were. That’s what their names were. The little girl in the room was sitting up in her straw mattress, legs crossed as she stared up at the window, where the moon and stars hung in the night sky. Her blanket was kicked to the corner, and her stuffed honeying doll was cuddled in her arms.

She looked up at me with curious eyes. I looked back down at her. She looked a lot like me. Purple hair, green eyes, even with a little short braid tucked in front of her pointy ears. On the other side of the was a little boy. He was fast asleep in his own straw mattress. He was the star and she was the moon.

“Conjy?” the little girl whispered. “Conjy, wake up,” she said. “I had a dream.” Dreams. My dreams were so strange. They always were. I liked dreams.

“Conjy,” she called again. I smiled. He wasn’t waking up. I knew. The girl frowned, getting up and tiptoeing to the door. One hand clutched her honeying doll, and the other quietly swung their bedroom door open. I followed her.

She was very quiet, sneaking around the noisy boards. I knew them as well. She came to the top of a flight of wooden stairs, stepping down to the first room. The light of a candle casted shadows on the wooden floor, and two voices came from the room.

“I don’t like lying to my children,” a voice said. A man’s voice. It sounded familiar. Suddenly I wanted to run to the voice, but at the same time I didn’t want to be seen. “They have a right to know.”

“We both agreed that this is better for them,” now it was a lady’s voice. It too was familiar. Something about it stung at my heart. “Why did you tell her the story about the pirate?”

“She wanted to know, Aliera. You can’t hide it from them forever.”

The little girl crept to the bottom of the stairs, quietly watching them. The two adults were in the room. The man was pacing back and forth, and the woman with a needle and thread, sewing a button on a dress. I made a face. I didn’t like dresses. I especially didn’t like that blue one. It was too frilly.

“Rul, sweetheart,” the woman paused in her work. “The less they know, the better. They must never, ever, find out about-” she suddenly stopped. “Athemis, what are you doing here?”

My heart skipped a beat, startled that I had been found. The words caught in my throat, but the little girl spoke up instead. “Keka? I had a dream.”

Keka? That meant mother, in Elfish. Was that woman the little girl’s mother? But then why did she call her Athemis?

The woman placed the dress on the table. “Come here Athy,” she said. I watched curiously as the little girl came out of her hiding spot, climbing up onto the woman’s lap. The girl made a face at the blue dress, running her hand over the neckline. “It’s too frilly.”
The man softly chuckled. “Told you she wouldn’t like it,” he said.

The woman smoothed down the girl’s hair, ignoring both comments of the man and girl. “Tell me about your dream, Athy. What was it about?” She looked over at the man, and nodded at him. He stopped pacing, staring at the woman for awhile. Finally he turned around and sighed, heading over to the stove and cabinet in the corner. He pulled out a kettle and a small box from the cabinet.

“I dreamed there was this lady,” the little girl said. I leaned over, intently listening. “She looked like me, with purple hair and green eyes. She was watching me sleep.”

“Really?” Alieva said. “Did the lady say anything?”

The little girl shook her head, hugging her honeying doll. “Nope. But I think she might be an older me.” The girl suddenly brightened up. “Do you think it was one of those future dreams?” she asked.

The woman shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe it was.” The little girl watched the man at the stove, as he heated water and poured it into a small cup. “Dano? Is that the tea?”

Now she called the man dano. That was father. Keka and dano. Those people must be the girl’s parents.

The man turned around. His eyes looked sad. “Yes, it’s the tea,” he answered. He handed the cup to the woman.

“Drink it up, Athy. It will help you go back to sleep.” The woman said. The little girl took the tea, blowing the steam off and drinking it up. The woman hugged the girl in her arms, and softly began to hum a lullaby. I smiled. I knew that song. It was so familiar. That man and woman seemed so familiar, and this house. Why did I-

From the corner of my eye I saw something orange flicker. I turned my head. It was a flicker of fire. The fire suddenly sprang to live, spreading across the wooden walls. My eyes widened in fear. The man, woman, and child didn’t look up, they didn’t move, oblivious to the fire. I tried to run to them, to warn them, but my feet were stuck to the floor. The fire blazed to life, support beams burning and crashing, furniture bursting to flames. I tried to call out, but nothing came from my mouth.

The little girl looked up at her mother, eyes curious and sleepy. The mother smiled back down. Slowly, the girl began to fade. The cup shattered to the floor, breaking into pieces. All that was left in the mother’s hands was the honeying doll. I wanted to scream at them, tell them to run. Get out. Get out before the fire consumed them.

Finally I found my voice. Keka! Dano! Get out! Run! The fire burned, higher and higher, burning away at the house, their clothes, their faces. Tears streamed from my eyes. Run, please run. I don’t want to lose you. Please run.

~~

I choked back another gulp of tears. “Run, get out,” I whispered.

I sniffled, wiping away a tear. Suddenly I stopped, quickly sitting up. Long flecks of purple hair flew over my wide green eyes. “Oh……dammit…..”

I was still here in the abyss, far past the borderline. I gingerly touched my face, rubbing my eyes. “Dammit….did I just pass out?” I cringed. “How long had I been out?”

I scrambled up, dizzily sidestepping to regain my balance. “This is bad….bad bad bad….” I looked around, trying to see where I was, and which way I had come. The hallway stretched out in both directions, neither way seemed like the way I came. “I gotta go back to Elderine….I’ve been here too long….”

A gust of wind suddenly kicked up, blowing me toward one direction. “Are you crazy?!” I screamed at the wind. “I am NOT continuing with this after I just passed out on the floor!!” I spun around. “Which way did I come? Dammit…don’t panick…” I took a deep breath, quickly stopping myself. “No, I can’t breathe in anymore of this air…it’s bad. This is bad….oh no.”

The wind blew again, pointing me toward one direction. “I don’t even know which way I came. I gotta go back.” I took a step toward the direction opposite of the wind, but it blew again into my face. “No! This is stupid!! I don’t want to die here!”

The wind died down again, and I stared blankly at the empty hallway. “I’m talking to the wind. Oh no…..I’ve lost it.”

The wind blew again. I hesitated, before picking up my crossbow and heading down the direction it had pointed. “Please, whoever you are, don’t let me die here,” I whispered.

~~

David pulled himself over the rung of the ladder, dropping down. He reached over and helped his sister up, who equally collapsed on the floor.

“Well, we’re alive,” she said weakly. David nodded. “Yeah…” he looked up. At least I still got Shrikanga with me, heh. Glad I didn’t lose that.” With a florish, he pulled out an elegant two handed sword from his bag. “What about you?”

Mary shook her head. “Don’t worry. I can still heal without a weapon. I just can’t hit stuff.”

David nodded, looking up at the rectangular hole high above. “How are we going to get out of here?”

Mary silently looked up. “Can we use our chatstone to call for help?

David nodded. “Yeah that’s a good idea!” he rummaged through his pockets. “Um, hang on, just a sec…wait…” he hesitated. “Oh great. Don’t tell me it fell in the water…”

“Found mine!” Mary said happily, holding up the stone. It illuminated to white, giving a small amount of light.

“Uh oh…” she mused, gripping it in her hand. “Oh no…?

“Oh no?” David asked. “What’s oh no?”

Mary hesitated. “My chatstone’s not working.”

“What?! You can’t be-” he took the chatstone, holding it in his own hand. “Oh come on…this can’t be happening….”

He looked up at the hole again. “Great. Now what?”

~~

I tripped, catching myself against the side of a pillar. “This was…a bad idea….” I gasped. I slowly slid down, struggling to take deep breaths of air. “This….is suicide….” I shook my head. “I can’t….do this…” I swallowed, only to go into a coughing fit. “I gotta….go back…”

Another gust of wind swept around me, urging me forward. “Are you crazy?!” I yelled, before falling into another hacking fit. “I’m gonna….die if I keep going!” I wheezed. “Energy’s…too strong here…”

I struggled to stand up, supporting myself against the pillar. “I gotta go back. This….is stupid….” I took a step down the way I had come, one to have a stronger blast chilling air force me to take two steps back.

“I can’t keep going!!” I yelled at the wind. “I don’t want to die in here! Whatever it is you want to show me isn’t worth my life!”

The wind died down, settling back into the heavy silent air. I stared down the hallway I had come. “I’m arguing…with the wind,” I slowly shook my head. “That must be it. I’ve stayed here in the abyss, for so long…I’ve lost it. I got abyss poisoning…and now I’m crazy!! And it’s because I listened to a stupid gust of wind!!”

I took a step, only to trip over the heel of my boot, roughly landing on my hands and knees. “I’m going crazy,” I said quietly. “I’ve lost it. I’ve lost it completely.” I struggled to stand up, only to collapse again.

Quietly, I started to laugh. “I’m crazy. I’m a crazy little archer,” I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling. “I was crazy to come in here. I was crazy to follow the wind.” I chuckled, quickly doubling up in a coughing fit. “I’m crazy…” I muttered. “And now I’m gonna die.”

I laid back down, staring at the ceiling. “I’m gonna die here,” I whispered, my eyes slowly closing. “I’m gonna die…right here…because I’m crazy…”

[hogashoshiro]

Yay another chapter finally! Seriously though what's with that cliffhanger ending, now we have to wait to find out D: All around though very intriguing chapter, can't wait for more ^^

[Daevor]

Ath, what an excellent chapter! And, if I may say so, your writing skills have certainly dramatically improved since the early days of AG. It's such a pleasure to read your work!

I even learnt a new word reading this chapter (pellucid). Thank you for a wonderful piece of writing.

Keep up the awesomeness ;)

Oh, just two minor corrections:

1. "The fire suddenly sprang to life"

2. "With a flourish, he pulled out an elegant two handed sword from his bag."


~~Daevor, The Devoted

[Unknown_quantity]

:D:D:D waiting for next chapter. This has really sparked my interest. Good job so far ath

[Dragonfly77]

Chapter 35

She was running through the forests. Leaves scattered around her, swirling and sparkling, flitting to the grass carpeted earth. Pillars of tree bark held up the canopy of green leaves above. Her silken dress whipped around her legs, trailing behind her like a wisp of silver smoke. Her face was filled with anxiety and fear, mingling in her vivid green eyes, with flecks of dark green hair casted before her face.

She entered a small clearing, and only then did she slow her pace. Centered in the clearing was a small shrine; a pedestal, carved with flowers and leaves. A stone bowl rested on top of the pedestal, filled with fallen brown leaves.

She stepped up to the pedestal, brushing the leaves aside. “No,” she breathed, clutching the rim of the bowl to support herself. “They already came here…they took it…”

She leaned against the bowl, slowly sliding down. “They’re coming,” she whimpered. “Bijou is dead, and the Gods of Legel are coming.” She looked up at the sunlight filtering through the forest leaves. “Teva, where are you? Why is it when your people need you so much, you flee?” Tears streamed from her grief stricken eyes. “Have you forsaken us? Have you left us to suffer the cruel fate ourselves?”

She placed her hand on her side, rubbing the bandage wrapped at her waist. “I won’t last long,” she whispered. “But I do have enough time.”

At this she withdrew a necklace from her pocket. A vivid bluish green stone shimmered in the soft sunlight. She cupped her hands around the stone, whispering an incantation. Then she reached at the foot of the pedestal and scraped at the dirt, digging a small hole underneath the shrine. She tucked the necklace underneath the pedestal, quickly covering the hole with dirt. “Never be found, until one carries the link of my blood finds you,” she whispered.

A deep growl sounded from behind her. She froze, slowly turning around. “So you found me, finally,” She glowered. A pair of yellow eyes watched her from behind the shrubbery, but made no move toward her. “I’m wounded,” she answered. “And even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to fight you off.” She closed her eyes. “But you’re too late. You cannot find my son. He is safe. Forever safe from you. From you and your master.”

She opened her eyes again, filled with anger and tears. “Come at me!!” She yelled. “Kill me so my soul can stay here! I will guard this place until the next guardians comes and find me! Come and find me! Come and find me!!”

~~

“Come and find me!! Come and find me!!” my eyes flittered open. I stretched the ache in my shoulder, pulling at the bed sheets over my head, and snuggling back into the warm pillow. A childlike voice continued to call out from outside. “Come and find me! Come and find me!!”

Suddenly my eyes snapped open and I immediately sat up, throwing the bed sheets off. The voice outside giggled and smothered itself to silence, quickly followed by another call of “Come and find me!”

I blinked, adjusting my eyes to the dim light of the room. I was sitting on a small cot, with a nightstand table to my left. A bottle of medicine stood on top of it, along with a spoon and small cup, half filled with water. One end of the wall was lined with bookcases, dusty and old, most of the hardcover books having lost their original colors. Right in front was a window, with the curtains drawn closed. To my right was an empty doorframe, with a white sheet drawn over to allow privacy.

“I’m alive?” I wondered. I slipped over the edge of the bed, standing up. A medallion swung from my neck, the first time I had ever noticed it. I gripped it in my hand, staring at the bronze handiwork, and the lustrous orange gem in the middle. “Where’d this come from?” it was the exact same as I had found within the abyss, but this one was whole and intact.

“I suggest you don’t remove that necklace.”

I spun around, staring at the cloaked figure that stood at the doorway. His hood was drawn low, concealing his face. He nodded at the gemstone in my hand. “That is the only thing that is keeping you from dying.”

“Dying?” I echoed. “Wha-who are you? And where am I?”

“My name is Maghis,” he replied. “And you are at my home.” He motioned back at the cot. “Athemis, you’d best get some more rest. I don’t think you’ve healed enough from your exposure to the abysmal air.”

Without another word, he turned around and left, draping the white curtain over the doorway. “Wait, Maghis,” I called out, heading to the doorway and throwing the curtain aside.

I stared at the small room, but there was no one inside. “…Maghis?” I asked hesitantly. In one corner of the room there stood a table, covered with scrolls and books. At the far end was a fireplace, unlit, and an empty black cauldron resting on top. More bookcases lined the walls, and on the opposite end were a pair of dusty windows, a large map and a door. An old rug was thrown over the floor in the center of the room.

I stepped out from the curtain, looking around. “Hello? Ok, that’s just plain creepy..”

“What is creepy?” a voice asked from above. I yelped, quickly spinning around and taking a step back. Maghis was kneeling at a small platform jutting from the wall, where boxes were lined along the side. He was rummaging through one of the boxes himself. “I told you, you need more rest,” he replied, peering down at my puzzled face. “You’re lucky when I found you. Another minute and you wouldn’t be here.”

He returned to the box, pulling out a long purplish cloak. “I knew I still had this.” He reached over and clamored down a stepladder. “Athemis, I need to depart soon, but if you think you’re well enough to stay out of bed, you are welcome to walk around the village.” He replied, handing me the cloak. “I will tell you more later. But for now…”

He kneeled down, placing his hand at my boots. I instinctively stepped back, but he gripped my ankle, holding it firm. “You cannot leave the village.” An orange glow emitted from his hand, and a ring of light curled outward, wrapping around my ankle.

I yanked my foot away, defensively stepping back. “Where’s my crossbow?” I demanded. Where’d you put my weapon? And my things?”

“I put them away for safekeeping,” he answered. “You will not need them.” I shook at my foot, the ring of light firmly attached to my boots. “Maghis, what in the world is-” I started, but realized I was alone in the room. “Wha-Hey! Where’d you go now?!”

I blinked, looking around the place. “What the…” I hesitated, wondering what to do next, before sucking in a deep breath of air and heading the front door.

~~

“Power,”

Maghis glanced sidelong at the man that walked beside him. “Beg your pardon?” he asked.

The man turned to face him, his long locks of orange hair swaying out of his face. “Power,” he repeated. “Everything in history points to gaining power. From Epith, to Helga, the Angels and Demons – even Teva herself is guilty for desiring power. She was the one who usurped Legel.”

“You speak quite boldly, comparing yourself to them all,” Maghis replied.

“Listen you old codger, don’t try to lecture me,” the man snapped. “I’m not to be compared with them…not until I have gained my share of power…”

Maghis averted his gaze. “All in the name of Anis…”

“What?”

“Anis,” Maghis said. “Anis is the god of power – or strength, to be exact. When Legel was defeated by Teva, he split himself into several smaller gods, and granted each of them a portion of his being. From Apoline, Nik, Anis, Markis, Pagel-”

“I know how the story goes,” the man cut him off. “What are you trying to get at anyway?”

“I have warned you before, that what you are trying to accomplish will turn out very badly for you…”

The man stopped in his tracks, and locked eyes with Maghis. “Listen to me, you old fool. You are to do, exactly as I tell you to do, or else…” he let the sentence hang, before he turned around and resumed walking.

Maghis hanged his head. “Hurry up!” The man yelled at him. “I want to see what Kitone called us down here for.”

~~

Kitone ran her hand over the edge of her blade, admiring herself in the sharp reflection. “About time you two got here,” She said without looking up.

“Well? Where is he?” The man asked. Kitone nodded at a mirror on the wall, then resumed fingering the sharp edge of her weapon.

Maghis glaced at Kitone, then back at the orange haired man. “What…have you done with her?” he asked quietly.

Kitone glanced up at Maghis with silent angry eyes. “Don’t bother yourself with Kitone,” the man replied. “All I did was introduce her to some…friends.” He grinned.

Kitone made no answer, merely flipping her sword around and running her hand across the other edge. “You-you did not…” Maghis breathed.

“He did,” Kitone replied nonchalantly. “Not that it really matters to me anymore. I prefer it this way,” with that she stood up, and sheathed her sword. “I’m much better than I was before…”

The words stung at his heart. “Kitone,” he faltered. Kitone turned her back on Maghis, joining the other man before the large mirror. Maghis lowered his gaze at the floor.

“Is that really him?” the man asked, peering at the mirror. The image reflected back showed Conjurator, huddled in the corner of his cell. “This is the mage?”

“It is,” Kitone replied. “Surprised he’s been hiding in plain sight all this time. Funniest thing is, he doesn’t even know anything.”

“And with him, you can make the machines work?”

Kitone gave a wide grin. “Most definitely.”

“Well then,” the man turned to face Kitone. “He can only provide half the power we will need…we better start looking for his sister.”

~~

“Come and find me!”

I quietly edged around the wall, spying the little boy that had hidden behind a large wooden crate. He covered his mouth with his hands, suppressing a giggle. Not too far away, another boy walked around aimlessly, a blindfold tied over his eyes. He stretched his hands out, feeling his way over to the fence.

The boy behind the box called out again. “Come and find me!”

I reached over and gripped the boy on the shoulder, who yelped and leaped out of hiding. “You know,” I said, “the game ‘look and find’ isn’t really fair if you keep moving your hiding spo-YEOWCH!!!”

The boy had slammed his foot against my shin, then raced off screaming. His friend removed the blindfold from his eyes, and upon seeing a purple haired archer hopping on one leg and spewing elfin curses, he quickly followed suit.

“Ok, I’m sorry I startled you, but you didn’t have to KICK ME!!” I yelled at them.

“Just great,” I muttered, rubbing my shin. “I just scared off the last person I could find in this whacked-up village,” I glanced around at the empty streets. “The minute anyone sees me, they run off screaming…and that last guy chased me out of his yard with a shovel…before he whacked me in the head with the shovel…” I set my foot down, stepping my back onto the streets. The corner of my eye caught sight of a woman who was watching me from a nearby window, before she quickly retreated back into her house and slammed her shutters. “Why is everyone here antisocial?!” I yelled.

“Maybe I did die, and I’m in some kind of afterlife for crazy people,” I sighed. “It would be nice if someone would just talk to me and tell me what is going on…”

I looked around. Every now and again I would spy people peering out from windows or doors to watch me, but the instant I turned to face them, they would retreat back into their homes. “Why is everyone here scared of me?”

[Dragonfly77]

Look at that. A new chapter already. :D I'm getting better at this...

[Daevor]

“Why is everyone here scared of me?”

Because you can be quite scary :p

Good chappie. So many questions. More more more please :)

~~Daevor, The Devoted

[avonlea123]

Very nice choice of words.

[Unknown_quantity]

patiently waiting for update :)

[jesmaster]

wow dragonfly is just telling us his life story @.@

[Dragonfly77]

Yikes. I meant to update last weekend, but it slipped my mind. I should have something up by Friday, or perhaps Saturday.


wow dragonfly is just telling us his life story @.@

I'm a she, thank you very much...

[Unknown_quantity]

err update ath?

[Dragonfly77]

Friday....or perhaps saturday...

^^;;

I'm sorry!! Q_Q I swear, once today is done, I'm gonna do NOTHING but Abyss Guardians D: My word as an author. ._.

[Daevor]

Friday....or perhaps saturday...

^^;;

I'm sorry!! Q_Q I swear, once today is done, I'm gonna do NOTHING but Abyss Guardians D: My word as an author. ._.

And I updated Minoes once in the last...2 years? Never trust the word of an author when it comes to deadlines. :p

~~Daevor, The Devoted

[Dragonfly77]

^Soooo true.

But I'm halfway done with this chapter, it should go up to day. Sorry guys, I got sick. ~.~

[Unknown_quantity]

quick bump to wake up ath ^^

[Dragonfly77]

Q_Q Believe me, I want to write AG and and have the next chapter out....there's actually a lot of things I want to do, but I'm swamped with college.

I have to write 2 papers, read two different books, 4 lessons of homework, write another paper, prepare a presentation, study for an upcoming quiz, study for my first exam, finish my homework for another class, get started on that class' next homework.....

It never ends!! D:<

[Orchids_Mantis]

Q_Q Believe me, I want to write AG and and have the next chapter out....there's actually a lot of things I want to do, but I'm swamped with college.

I have to write 2 papers, read two different books, 4 lessons of homework, write another paper, prepare a presentation, study for an upcoming quiz, study for my first exam, finish my homework for another class, get started on that class' next homework.....

It never ends!! D:<

*Hides letter with bribe money to Ath's professors*
I'm so sorry to hear that....

[Dragonfly77]

._. Bribing them to give me more work or less work?

[Unknown_quantity]

>.< depends it can go either ways. Does orchid hates you ath?

[Orchids_Mantis]

>.< depends it can go either ways. Does orchid hates you ath?



Oh no, I don't hate Dragonfly in the least -she's a good friend on forums and in game.



...however I AM insanely jealous of her ability to pull 1000 views/month on months when she doesn't even update her story *looks at Legacy* 200 views in 3 weeks (10-15 mine)...and I updated twice maybe a sign that it's time to just summarize everything and end it

[Dragonfly77]

You know what I'm jealous of? You have 5 stars and I have 4.

[Orchids_Mantis]

You know what I'm jealous of? You have 5 stars and I have 4.

Trade ya. You can have the fanfic that has 10 people reading it and I'll take 4 stars with hundreds of people actively reading it :p

[kme92]

Trade ya. You can have the fanfic that has 10 people reading it and I'll take 4 stars with hundreds of people actively reading it :p


Ditto...

[Dragonfly77]

AG....will be updated this weekend!!!!

I think..unless another paper decides to assign even more work. >.o;

[mudkip_master386]

your updates are worse than GLaDOS's promises of cake.

[Kitkat1181999]

Oh....mai...gawd......D: I want moar pl0x~<3
But take your time haha :3

[mudkip_master386]

... and thus another innocent has been trapped into reading an incredible story but will DIE from lack of updates eventually.


this happens to me waaaaaaay too often

>found an incredible story on the internet
>hasn't been updated in 2+years and the author has given up on it.

[Kitkat1181999]

o.o Wow that sucks mudkip....q.q...I can wait...I think Dx

[Dragonfly77]

I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON IT!! D:

I just have a huge load of homework to do...that's all...

Like right now, I'm spending my weekend writing a 6 page paper, reading a fat pocket book, drafting an outline for that fat pocketbook, a thesis paper, studying for an upcoming exam, a lab report, and 18 problem solving questions that each have about 4 sub questions (72 total, give or take)

Whoever said college is easier than high school needs to switch places with me >.>;

I promise, I will update AG if it's the last thing I do >.< I put my soul into this piece, and I cannot rip it out.. Q_Q

(realizes I kinda just did a little foreshadowing with that last statement)
meh.

[Dragonfly77]

your updates are worse than GLaDOS's promises of cake.

As an incentive to write the next chapter (which, mind you, is actually half written...) I am putting this quote in my siggy until the next update!

~.~;

Edit: Nyaaa!! *removes quote :D*

[Dragonfly77]

Chapter 36

Mary clutched her stomach. “David?”

“Yeah? What?” David asked. He ran his hand over the smoothened wall, trying to find a good grip. He clutched a large lump, struggling to find his footing on the wall. He struggled to hoist himself up, but slipped back down on the smooth surface. “Gah….what is it Mary?”

Mary looked sidelong. “My…stomach hurts..”

“Huh?” David asked half-absentmindedly. He tried again, attempting to vault up the grooves of the wall. He banged his knee against the wall and slipped back down. “Dammit!!”

Mary raised her hand and summoned a soft silver wind that surrounded David. “Heh. Thanks sis,” he muttered, rubbing his knee.

“David,” Mary said again, “I-I think I swallowed some of the water…”

“What?” David blinked. “Oh, no. No, no, no….” He walked over to his sister and sat down beside her. “Are you sure?”

“I…” Mary faltered. “I don’t know,” she confessed. “I might have. It was a really small sip. But…that’s too small, right?”

“Umm….yeah. That-that must be too small.” He said uncertainly. “Yeah, sure. Um…why not, just keep healing yourself?”

Mary hugged her legs to her chest. “David?” She whispered quietly.

“Yeah?”

“Are we going to die here?”

“Wha-no!” He chuckled nervously. “Of course not sis. We’ll get out of here, don’t you worry.” He stood up again. “We’ll get out of here for sure!” He casted his gaze up the high wall, up to the dim shaft of light peeking through from the turning wheel high above. “We’ll get out…somehow…”

~~

“There’s always a spell…there’s always a way…always an answer…” Conjurator breathed out of his nose, running his hand over the golden lock fixated against the door of his cell. “If only I could find some way to open this darn thing…”

He sighed, sitting down and resting his back against the bars. “This has to be a bad dream,” he muttered, tracing the lines of the gold gauntlets on his hand. “Why in the world do they want my mana?” he wondered. “Why me? It didn’t sound like any other mage would do.”

He got back on his knees, about to try another spell again, but stopped after hearing a door open on the far side of the hallway, out of his view. He stood up, trying to peer down the passage.

“Conjy dear, you’re not trying to pick the locks again, are you?” Kitone asked, walking into view and standing before him, a foot from the cell door. “I wouldn’t if I were you. They set off nasty alarms in my quarters.” She leaned in close, staring into his glaring dark green eyes. “Those alarms aren’t nice, Conjy…”

“Why are you doing this?” Conjurator demanded. “Why are you holding me here?”

Kitone smiled sweetly, leaning in closer to Conjurator. With a swift kick, she banged the door open, the bars slamming into the mage.

“Because it’s fun?” she laughed, stepping into the open cell. Conjurator backed up in the small cell, one hand over his cheekbone, where the bars had hit him.

“Actually, darling, they made me an offer I found very enticing, and I took them up on it.” She replied, twirling a loose strand of red hair between her fingers.

“And what offer is that?” Conjurator asked, trying to keep his temper in check.

“Power,” Kitone whispered, shutting the cell door behind her with a resolute clang. “I help them,” she smiled, “and they make me stronger.”

Conjurator scowled. “Capture me in exchange for power?” He hesitated, picking his worlds carefully. “You’re not the kind of person to desire power, Kitone…”

“Everyone wants more power, Conjy,” Kitone replied. “Even you. I bet you’ve stayed up late, practicing incantations, studying spells,” she paced around Conjurator, looking over the mage. “I know you must have. I know you want to be more powerful…”

Conjurator shook his head. “Magic…isn’t power,” he replied. “It’s-it’s life. It’s a mage’s life.” He shook his head. “Magic and power are not the same.”

Kitone laughed. “Oh, little mage. It is power.” She paused, turning to face him again. “Your life lies in magic, and mine lies in the blade.” She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. “I want to stand unrivaled, Conjy. I want no man or woman, human, elf, or monster, to stand as my equal.” She stared into his eyes. “And you will help me, whether you wish to or not.”

Conjurator stared down at her, unfaltering. “No,” he said quietly.

“No?” Kitone asked. “Conjy, I don’t think you understand that you have no choice in this matter.”

“No,” Conjurator repeated. “You’re not Kitone.” He stared back at her, into her amber eyes. “I know Kit, and I know that even if she was offered the entire world, all the power of the world, she wouldn’t accept it of it meant betraying a friend…betraying me.” Conjurator firmly shook his head. “You’re not Kit.”

Kitone sighed. “People change, Conjy.” She replied. “It’s been months since we last saw each other.”

“You don’t change in the course of a few months,” Conjurator shot back. “Now answer me. Why am I here, and where is the Kitone that I do know?”

Kitone chuckled. “You are here because you are needed here,” she said, “and the Kitone you know is standing right before you.

“Ugh,” Conjurator rubbed his temples. “You’re just going to go around in circles, aren’t you!?”

Kitone laughed. “Going around in squares would be silly.”

Conjurator let out a deep breath of air. “Fine. Prove it then. If you are Kitone, tell me something only Kitone would know.”

Kitone rolled her eyes. “Really Conjy? Fine then.” She leaned against the wall, musing. “I remember when we were really little kids, your dad would take you with him during his business trips in Elderine to sell his furs. Once, we took a stack of them and sold them at the other side of the market,” she nodded. “Then we went for lunch, but since you and Ath were only wearing sandles, the restaurant wouldn’t allow you in. So we had to go back out and buy real shoes with the money we made. And-”

Conjurator held up his hand, stopping her. “Any clever mage can read a person’s mind,” he answered. “Tell me something that only Kitone would know…something that a mage can’t. Tell me something that doesn’t come from memory, but something deep within you.”

Kitone frowned, locking her eyes on Conjurator. He held his breath, silently praying that he had not stepped over some invisible boundary. If this truly was Kitone, if she was being held in some sort of spell, he had to find a way to break it. He had to make her remember who she actually was, who she was as a person.

“Fine,” Kitone replied. “I’m not actually very confident in my fighting abilities. I always worry that one day, I’ll bite off more than I can chew. I’ll end up in a fight that I can’t win, but I won’t be able to help it because I’m as stubborn as a mule, and I have enough pride to share with three more people.”

“What else?” Conjurator pressed, slightly hesitant with the pressure of his words.

Kitone softly glared at him. “I also don’t like it when people try to play mind games with me, Conjy. Especially when they’re so confident that they think they’ve found a way to get under my skin….it really ticks me off…” she slowly placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, taking a step toward Conjurator.

“Wait,” Conjurator said, quickly trying to change the subject. “All right, okay. Then can you at least tell me, why I’m here?” he asked. “And what are these gauntlets for?” he asked, raising one of his hands.

“As I said before,” Kitone said, dropping her grip on her hilt, “You are here because they need you.” She shrugged. “You or your sister. But you were easier to track down.” She nodded at the gauntlets. “And I’m sure you know by now what those gauntlets are for.”

“And who exactly are they?” Conjurator pressed.

Kitone shook her head. “Meela itka le ku,” she muttered.

Conjurator stopped. “…Meela itka le ku? Did you-you just spoke elf for ‘That’s not important?’”

Kitone rolled her eyes. “Kale Elvie maka jykli, nyao? Daso u brindelle?” You are an elf, aren’t you? Can’t you speak your own tongue?

“That’s not what has me surprised,” he answered back in Elfin. “The Elfin language is forbidden to humans. How did you learn these words?”

Kitone laughed softly. “Oh, Conjy Conjy Conjy…” she gestured to herself with a flourish, replying again in his dialect. “I’ve seen so many things during my many travels as a researcher, and you’re surprised that I can speak your language? I’m self-taught.” She smiled. “Besides, I might be a little rusty. Your language is so complex, and I don’t get the chance to practice it.”

Conjurator hesitated. “Still…it’s forbidden for any elf to teach a human our language,” he paused, picking his words carefully. “How long have you known Elfin?”

“For some time now,” Kitone replied in her own tongue. “Heh…it’s pretty funny, listening in on you and Athemis during your ‘private discussions’ and thinking I don’t understand you guys,” she smiled coyly.

“How’d you learn it?” He asked.

“Oh, you know how I am. Looking for someone else to translate Elven texts took far too long for my likings.” She chuckled. “Learning it by myself was quicker. And more fun. To be honest,” she said, “I’m actually surprised that you didn’t notice that your bookshelves were missing a few books.”

“Well, that bookshelf is massive,” he muttered. “I can’t keep track of all the books shelved there.”

Kitone laughed. “I’ve borrowed so many books. I started with children books, then dictionaries, classic literature…” she smiled. “I scrapped clippings from Elven newspapers too. Anything I could get my hands on.” Her face suddenly lit up. “By Teva, The Dryad of the Black Forests, Khandu Aewila a leke Drikin, is by far my most favorite tale. No human literature can even begin to hold up a candle to it. It’s such a beautiful story.”

Conjurator did his best to maintain eye contact with Kitone. “You read that one?” he asked, trying to keep his voice curious. He crossed his left hand over his right, trying to finger the clasp that held the gauntlets. It remained tightly locked.

“Indeed. Quite marvelous. I can wholly understand why it has never been translated into the common language. Our language simply lacks the words to express such emotion! Like the part where the young archer gave up his own soul to save the dryad’s forest to stop it from being consumed by darkness?” She shook her head. “If you rewrote that scene, it would just fall flat on his face.”

Conjurator tried the other clasp on the gauntlet, still finding it shut. “Kana me lika lu terasha ny?” Then why did you never tell me and Ath?

Kitone shrugged, replying again in Elfin. “And miss out on all your secret discussions? Besides, you know how your sister is when it comes to her Elven culture. She wouldn’t have reacted as cooly as you have.”

The only reason I’m acting like this right now, he thought to himself, is because I still don’t believe you’re Kitone. I’d blast you with a fireball if I could…our language’s sacred…

“I’ll be honest Conjy,” Kitone replied sweetly. “It wasn’t easy, trying to sneak out of your house with a book or two.” She laughed.

“I’m…surprised you went through such lengths to learn our language,” Conjurator said. “It couldn’t have been easy.” He nodded slowly. “The Dryad of the Black Forests...that’s also one of my favorites.” He clenched his jaw, weighing the words of his next sentence. “It is a sad story, but it really shows the beauty of a closely knitted friendship, doesn’t it?”
Kitone paused in her musings, keeping a curious leveled glance at Conjurator. “It would pain me to think of someone going through so much suffering…doesn’t it?” he asked.

Kitone sighed, shutting her eyes. Then she opened them again, their spark was gone, replaced by a cold steely glare. “Enough with your games, Conjurator.” She answered. “I appreciate the trip down memory lane, but it won’t help you in the least.” She stared into his dark green eyes. “I have a mission to complete.” She answered with finality, speaking in her own language.

Conjurator fingered the clasps again. Still locked. He hesitated for a minute – all or nothing. “Kitone, I’m serious,” he said. “If you loved that story so much, it should have touched you deeply.”

“It did, Conjurator. It did. It made me cry, it made me laugh, and it made me think.” She cast her eyes away from Conjurator. “And…for a while…it made me realized how much I would put the wellbeing of my friends before my own. I felt that…I owed that to them, because I knew that they would do the same to me. But…” she looked back up, firmly staring back at the mage. “Those days are gone.”

Conjurator maintained eye contact with her. “I don’t see how that’s possible, Kitone Wolf.”

Kitone turned her back on Conjurator. “Then you’re a blind man, Conjurator Dragonfly – Khandjchurhadur Sevrillishelen.” She opened the door of the cell, ready to step out.

“Wait,” Conjurator said. He stepped forward, gripping Kitone’s shoulder. She stiffened. “Why are you different than how I remember you?” he demanded.

“Simple,” she said bluntly. “‘They’ came to me and asked for my help.”

“And what exactly did they need your help in?”

“In due time, you will find out, Conjy.” She turned her head slightly, glaring at him. “Now remove your hand from my shoulder, mage…”

Conjurator hesitated, slowly pulling his hand back. Kitone suddenly spun around and gripped his wrist, painfully yanking it above his head. With her other hand, she pressed a knife against his abdomen. “And if you try to undo the lock on your cell, or those clasps on your gauntlets, or play any more mind games with me…the next time I come down here, I will be a less-than-proper lady…” she finished her sentence by twisting him around and forcing his hand behind his back, then pinned him against the wall, pressing the blade of her knife against the nape of his neck. “Understood?”

Conjurator gritted his teeth. He tried to struggle away from her powerful grip, but she only twisted his arm further. “I do!” he yelped.

“Good boy,” Kitone smirked, releasing her hold on him. She exited the cell, with the loud clang of the cell door shutting behind her with finality. “You need to be taught some manners, Conjy. Perhaps a night without food will do you good – along with no meals for tomorrow.” She smirked.

“Oh come on…Kitone!” Conjurator called out after her disappearing footsteps. He slumped against the wall. “Dammit…”

[Dragonfly77]

~~

I carefully slipped down a craggy rock, coming closer to the mouth of the wide black rim of glasslike stone. Frustrated, I had left the village behind, and walked down a pathway that eventually led me to this strange landmark. Aside from the village far behind me, and the black glass before me, the land stretched out in flat gray stone, miles upon miles, the horizon shrouded by a distant haze. All except for this one spot, where the rocks broke up into jagged crevasses, like a giant mouth swallowing the strange black and smooth surface. I folded the old purple cloak more snugly as another chilling gust swept around me. “Nice place,” I muttered.

Whenever I tried to walk off in direction away from the set path between the village and this black surface, my foot would stop, as if the orange ring was a shackle tied to a long chain – but upon stepping back from the invisible boundary, my foot was free again. The only places I was permitted access was the village, this landmark, and the path between them.

I knelt next to the rim of the smooth surface, my foot momentarily slipping on the rocks before I caught myself. I cursed in elfin, gingerly picking my way over the rocks. Finally, I found a stone that was relatively flat, and climbed up on it, sitting on the stone to peer at the smooth black surface before me.

“What is this stuff?” I wondered. I fingered the medallion hidden underneath the cloak. “And where am I?” I looked down at the medallion in my hand. Would I really die if I took it off?

It wasn’t something I was too anxious to find out. Sighing, I peered back at the black surface. Obsidian maybe? A lake of obsidian?

A soft gurgling brought my attention to the center of the landmark. My eyes widened as the center began to bubble – slowly at first, but the frothing increasing, each bubble illuminated by a golden light coming from underneath. “Ooohkay, it’s liquid, not solid. Figured that out,” I quickly got down from my perch, trying to back up from the rim of the lake.

An explosion of water erupted from the center, with a rain of droplets splashing outward, drenching me in cold water. I shrieked, trying to stumble backward at the towering form of a golden dragon.

Dammit, it saw me. It saw me! The dragon loomed over me, slowly lowering its gaze to inspect me.

Dragons. What did I know about dragons? I know they’re large dangerous creatures that ravaged the land in the past, and feasted on both humans and elves, before being driven back to the borderlines of Isya. This one didn’t breathe fire – or at least I don’t think it did.

Great. I have no weapon, nowhere to hide, and nowhere to run. Dammit!! The dragon’s head moved closer, slightly opening its mouth to reveal rows of razor sharp teeth. I backed myself into a gap between two large rock outcroppings, praying that the jagged tips would be enough to deter the dragon from making a light snack of me.

A deep rumble came from within its throat. I struggled to pull my legs into the outcropping – the space still too small for my tiny frame. The dragon’s nostrils gave a breath of hot air across my face, coming close enough to brush his long scales against the fold of the dampened robes. I suppressed a scream.

Another low growl emitted from his throat. I shut my eyes. Oh Teva, please don’t let me die here!

What I never expected to hear was a loud joyful laughter coming from a few feet above me. I craned my neck to see where it was coming from. “Maghis?!” I half squeaked.

“Athemis,” He chortled, “What are you doing down there?!”

“You tell me!” I demanded, locking eyes back at the dragon. Another deep growl came from him.

“Oh Athemis…come out of there. Jandlus won’t harm you. I promise.” Maghis stepped down, a hand reaching over to the dragon.

“Jandlus…that thing’s name is Jandlus?” I asked. Another sound, this time more of a soft whine, came from the dragon. A sudden surge of guilt hit me like a wave. I blinked in confusion.

“Yes, his name is Jandlus,” Maghis replied. “And he feels bad for scaring you.” Maghis reached a hand over to the beast, gently stroking its head. “Come out of there, Athemis. Jandlus won’t harm you. Watch.” Maghis gently reached under his snout, extending his hand into Jandlus’ jaw. “See? He won’t bite,” Maghis explained, patting him on the side.

I cautiously crept out of my hiding place. “He feels bad scaring me,” I asked incredulously. “Was…that…”

“The telepathic emotion you felt? Yes,” Maghis answered. He took my hand and placed it onto Jandlus’ head. “That is how Jandlus communicates with us. He sends his emotions out to us.”

“…Ok…cool,” I answered, still a bit shaky from my initial experience. Maghis chuckled. “Telepathic emotions are also how you speak to him. He saw you were scared, so he tried to comfort you.”

“Trust me, that had the opposite effect,” I muttered. “When I’m scared, seeing a giant dragon with sharp teeth doesn’t usually make me feel better…”

Maghis could only laugh.

[mudkip_master386]

the problem with being a fast reader is that only took 3 minutes to read, and now I have to wait probably at least 3 months to get any more n.n

[Dragonfly77]

Read more slowly. Problem solved. :D

[mudkip_master386]

how do I do that? x.x

[Kitkat1181999]

Lol...*-* Must. Has. MOAR! D<
But like I said take your time :P
I'd like slow updates and have it be amazing than lots of updates and have it all be junk :c

[Dragonfly77]

I should update this again..

[mudkip_master386]

yes you should.

[Kitkat1181999]

yes you should.

Ditto~

[Dragonfly77]

Ok. Before I once again continue this tale, I'm going to go back and edit these chapters. I realize I might have some inconsistency and errors, and I really do need to refresh my memory of what it's about. I don't think it'll require any re-reading, as the main plot will be kept.

With that being said, I have a goal of keeping it at least one update a week. The first week is this clean-up. Next week will be a new chapter.

Edit: You know, rereading this story from beginning, I'm being reminded of all my good old friends from my time in the Abyss. Most of them had quit or moved on, and only a few of them are still here in game. So to all my friends, if you see this post, remember to keep it real <3 the Abyss just isn't the same without you guys.

[T3h_SyN]

With that being said, I have a goal of keeping it at least one update a week. The first week is this clean-up. Next week will be a new chapter.

New Year. Old resolutions. :3

[Dragonfly77]

New Year. Old resolutions. :3

....

Shaddup.

[Orchids_Mantis]

....

Shaddup.


3 months of thought, planning and drafting went into that reply

[jonny890]

Lovely work, not done yet but still...:)